Beach kiosk

ABSTRACT

A kiosk structure of hollow rotary moulded plastic counter modules having a body of circular segmental configuration with top horizontal surface, horizontal bottom surface, vertical front and back walls and at least two vertical sleeves at opposing ends of the body having a vertical bore through the top and bottom surfaces. A like number of vertical support posts within the bores have a bottom portion anchored within a granular beach sand or soil foundation layer. A variety of differently shaped arrays can be constructed of counter modules with a lintel spanning between a post of each adjacent counter module of the array. the posts and lintels can support a tubular frame roof with fabric extending across the frame providing shelter. The kiosk structure can be easily assembled and disassembled for temporary events or for storage in off season.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to an improved kiosk for beach or patio usehaving a number of hollow plastic counter/cabinet units with a hexagonalshade roof structure having support posts anchored in a sand or soillayer.

BACKGROUND OF THE ART

[0002] Temporary or permanent kiosks or shelter structures are oftenused at beaches, in parks, during temporary events, such as musicconcerts or markets. A kiosk usually includes a roof structure forshelter from sun and rain, a counter structure for display and sale, andmay have cabinet space for storage of goods to avoid exposure toweather, dust, insects and animals.

[0003] Depending on the permanence of the kiosk structure, materialsused may include steel plate, pipes, wood or plastic. Lightweightmaterials are generally preferred for ease of transport and assembly.

[0004] More permanent kiosk structures are sometimes constructed atbeach hotels or parks. Alternatively, temporary tent structures areprovided, however due to strong winds a tent structure is of limiteduse. More commonly due to the harsh environment of strong winds, wave orspray from rough seas during storms, salt and intense sunlight, wood,metal, concrete blocks or other more permanent building materials areused for constructing beach side kiosks. Such kiosks are commonly usedfor serving beverages, sale of clothing, rental of snorkeling or scubadiving equipment, etc.

[0005] In many cases however, the harsh environment severely damages orweathers the building materials. The roof structure may requirerebuilding due to heavy winds and frequent painting or replacement ofbroken components results in high maintenance costs and delay instarting up operations when peak business seasons approaches.

[0006] In addition, kiosks are often used for temporary events such asboat races, music concerts, temporary markets, and festivals.Conventional materials are generally heavy and require significanteffort in constructing and removing after a temporary event. Promotersof the event or a hotel promoting beach side activities for example mayalso wish to ensure that kiosks structures are of a complementary styleand aesthetic appearance, that adds to and does not detract from thecarefully designed environment of the hotel.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a lightweighteasily constructed kiosk, which includes a roof for shelter, counter topspace and storage space.

[0008] It is a further object of the invention to provide a kioskstructure that can be easily assembled and disassembled from standardmodular components without the need for heavy lifting, tools orequipment, foundation structures, excessive labour or skill.

[0009] Further objects of the invention will be apparent from review ofthe disclosure and description of the invention below.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The invention provides a kiosk structure of hollow rotary mouldedplastic counter modules having a body of circular segmentalconfiguration with top horizontal surface, horizontal bottom surface,vertical front and back walls and at least two vertical sleeves atopposing ends of the body having a vertical bore through the top andbottom surfaces. A like number of vertical support posts within thebores have a bottom portion anchored within a granular beach sand orsoil foundation layer. A variety of differently shaped arrays can beconstructed of counter modules with a lintel spanning between a post ofeach adjacent counter module of the array. The posts and lintels cansupport a tubular frame roof with fabric extending across the frameproviding shelter. The kiosk structure can be easily assembled anddisassembled from standard modular components in a variety of shapes andsizes for temporary events or for storage in off-season.

[0011] The kiosk structure is supported on vertical posts that may havedifferent base configurations depending on the nature of the supportingground surface. For example, on hard pavement surfaces, the posts mayhave adjustable height feet to level, raise and lower the modules, thepost feet may include wheels, or anchoring plates to secure the posts tothe pavement, or the bottom end of posts may be securely anchored bypiercing a beach sand substratum. The bottom surface of the countermodule is preferably raised above the pavement or sand to prevent dirt,sand and debris from being blown into the shelf area to contaminate thebeverages or material stored behind cabinet doors. The hollow rotarymoulded plastic body of the counter module also helps to insulate theinterior shelving from heat and cold. For example, products may melt orbeverages may be stored and insulated to a degree by the dead air spacewithin the hollow moulded plastic body. Further, in the event that thekiosk structure is damaged by strong winds, the hollow moulded plasticbodies can float on water surfaces and if driven by wind are relativelylight weight and will not cause significant property damage or pose asignificant risk of injury to persons.

[0012] A significant advantage of the invention is the ability toassemble and disassemble relatively lightweight modular components intovarious shapes. The present disclosure and drawings relate to a simplearray of three crescent shaped counter modules in a circular orhexagonal kiosk shape. However, it will be apparent that a string ofmodules can be constructed in virtually any desired shape using the samemethods and components. The shape of the counter array and the roofstructure can be varied to suit the needs of a particular application.Also of significant advantage is the interchangeability of identicalmodular components so that the same components can be used by a hotelfor example to accommodate various activities in different areas of ahotel complex at different times. The modular nature of the componentsenables them to be repeatedly assembled into different arrangements,taken apart and stored easily during off-season thereby minimizingdamage and to exposure to weather or vandalism.

[0013] Further details of the invention and its advantages will beapparent from the detailed description and drawings included below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] In order that the invention may be readily understood, onepreferred embodiment of the invention will be described by way ofexample, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0015]FIG. 1 shows a top plan transparent view through the kiosk roofshowing fabric roof covering and tubular roof frame of hexagonal shape,supported on six vertical posts extending through three circular segmentshaped counter modules and anchoring the kiosk within a sand beach.

[0016]FIG. 2 shows a side elevation view of the kiosk of FIG. 1 withthree counter modules supported on six vertical posts with tubular frameroof structure.

[0017]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a single counter module showinginterior partitions that form shelves with cabinet doors mounted toshelf access openings in the vertical back wall.

[0018]FIG. 4 shows an elevation view of the back wall with cabinet doorsalong line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

[0019]FIG. 5 shows a sectional view through the counter module alongline 5-5 of FIG. 3.

[0020]FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of an assembled kioskcombination with two canopy roof structures, and showing posts withhorizontal base member and anchor plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021]FIGS. 1 and 2 show one example of a kiosk structure with threeidentical counter modules 1 with six support posts 2 disposed withinbores 3 (see FIG. 3) in vertical sleeves at opposing ends of the countermodule body 1 extending between the top surface 4 and bottom surface 5.A bottom portion 6 of each support post 2 is anchored within a granularfoundation layer 7, such as the sand of the beach or soil of a gardenarea. Burying the bottom portion 6 of each post 2 into the sand layer 7provides secure mounting for the counter modules 1 as shown in theexample of FIG. 2. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, the posts 2 mayhave a horizontal member joining the bottom ends with an anchor plate 19for mounting to a hard paved surface. The posts 2 may have adjustableheight feet, mayn include wheels or anchoring bolts depending on thenature of the supporting surface.

[0022] As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the counter modules 1 have a bodyformed as a hollow rotary moulded plastic shell in the example shownwith a substantially circular segment or crescent shaped top surface 4,a vertical front wall 8 and a vertical back wall 9. The counter modulehollow shell 1 includes, two horizontal shelves 10 below the tophorizontal surface 4. The front wall 8 is closed and faces thepurchaser, whereas the back wall 9 includes several shelf accessopenings with cabinet doors 11 mounted to the back wall 9 with hinges12, 13.

[0023] The cabinet doors 11 are also hollow rotary moulded plasticcomponents and the hinges are simply formed of inter-engaging recesses12 in the upper and lower edges of the shelf access openings and similarshape protrusions 13 on the upper and lower edges of the cabinet doors11. Due to the flexible nature of the hollow plastic structure, thecabinet doors 11 can be snapped in and out resiliently on theprotrusions 13 by engaging the recesses 12. As a result, the cost andcomplexity of mechanical hinges can be eliminated and simple manufactureand maintenance as well as cleaning are facilitated.

[0024] As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the shelves 10 and accessopenings can be formed in the hollow rotary moulded plastic body 1 withvertical partitions 14. The lattice structure of shelves 10 andpartitions 14 serve to reinforce and restrain the counter module shell1.

[0025] As indicated by FIGS. 1 and 2, adjacent counter modules 1 can bedisposed in an array with a lintel 15 between the posts 2 of eachadjacent module 1 of the array. The lintel 15 may be of lengthsufficient to space the ends of adjacent modules 1 apart therebyproviding a passage way for servers or employees to access the interiorof the kiosk and materials stored behind cabinet doors 11. The lintels15 also extend laterally to support tubular rafters 16 to form a tubularframe roof. Stretched over the tubular frame of rafters 16 and lintel15, is a fabric 17 layer for supply shade and shelter. The tubular posts2 may also support fabric curtains 20 for shade, wind protection ormounting advertisements for example. As shown in FIG. 6, the spacebetween adjacent shells 1 may include hinged doors 18 mounted forrotation on the edges of the shells 1.

[0026] Although the above description and accompanying drawings relateto a specific preferred embodiment as presently contemplated by theinventor, it will be understood that the invention in its broad aspectincludes mechanical and functional equivalents of the elements describedand illustrated.

I claim:
 1. A kiosk structure comprising: a counter module having a bodyof selected configuration with top horizontal surface, bottom surfaceand a plurality of vertical sleeves at opposing ends of the body havinga vertical bore through the top and bottom surfaces; and a likeplurality of support posts disposed within said bores, a bottom portionof each post supported on a supporting surface.
 2. A kiosk structureaccording to claim 1 comprising: at least two like counter modulesdisposed in an array; and a lintel spanning between a post of eachadjacent module of the array.
 3. A kiosk structure according to claim 1wherein each counter module comprises a hollow rotary moulded plasticshell.
 4. A kiosk structure according to claim 3 wherein the shellincludes a horizontal shelf below the top horizontal surface.
 5. A kioskstructure according to claim 4 wherein the shell includes a closed frontwall and a shelf access opening in a back wall.
 6. A kiosk structureaccording to claim 5 wherein each shelf access opening includes acabinet door mounted to the back wall with a hinge.
 7. A kiosk structureaccording to claim 6 wherein the hinge comprises interengaging recessesand protrusions on adjacent opposing edges of each of the cabinet doorsand shelf access openings.
 8. A kiosk structure according to claim 6wherein each cabinet door is hollow and of rotary moulded plastic.
 9. Akiosk structure according to claim 2 including a roof structure mountedto a top portion of the posts.
 10. A kiosk structure according to claim9 wherein the roof structure comprises a tubular frame.
 11. A kioskstructure according to claim 10 wherein the roof structure includes afabric extending across the frame and secured thereto.
 12. A kioskstructure according to claim 1 wherein the body configuration of thecounter module comprises a substantially circular segmental top surfacewith vertical front and back walls.
 13. A kiosk structure according toclaim 1 wherein the posts include adjustable height feet.
 14. A kioskstructure according to claim 1 wherein the posts include wheels mountedto a bottom end thereof.
 15. A kiosk structure according to claim 1wherein the posts include base anchor plates.
 16. A kiosk structureaccording to claim 1 wherein the counter module includes a hinged doormounted to a lateral end thereof.
 17. A kiosk structure according toclaim 16 wherein the hinged door is mounted to a post above and belowthe counter module.